50 Greatest Angels: 40-31

Our list of the 50 greatest Angels ever continues to yo-yo between the past and present. Click on the photo to see who we voted as the next 10 on the list. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION; TEXT BY DAN WOIKE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

In voting for the 50 greatest Angels ever, there were a number of factors that someone on our panel had to account for.

With the pitchers, people looked at things like innings pitched, ERA, strikeouts and complete games. With the hitters, it was about batting average, on base percentage, home runs and stolen bases.

For the voters who saw guys like Fred Lynn or Bobby Knoop play, they can make judgments based on what they saw – things that might go beyond the numbers.

In trying to figure out where I'd vote Torii Hunter, I considered something else too.

Throughout the trials that faced the 2010 Angels, one player more than any other stood in front of his locker and answered question after question about why the team he was playing for couldn't break through and climb back to the top of the division.

He didn't necessarily like doing it; you could tell. But Hunter did what someone in that room needed to do. He stepped up and spoke for his teammates – many of whom were too stung by losing to do themselves.

In the context of a losing clubhouse, that's how Hunter was great last season. It wasn't the switch to right field; it wasn't the home runs or the highlight catches.

Hunter cemented his place on this list, in my mind, by being accountable – and by doing his best to protect his teammates from the same endless questions.

Like Hunter, so many names on this list helped the Angels in ways numbers can't show.

NOTE: The greatest Angels could be players, coaches, front office personnel or announcers who spent at least three seasons with the team.

The panel of voters was eclectic. Members of the Register's baseball staff and columnists were joined by prominent Angels' website administrators, a member of the Angels front office, a radio personality and a few Angels' bloggers.

Our list of the 50 greatest Angels ever continues to yo-yo between the past and present. Click on the photo to see who we voted as the next 10 on the list. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION; TEXT BY DAN WOIKE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERNo. 40: Fred Lynn Angels outfielder 1981-84 .271 BA, .358 OBP, .464 SLG, 71 HR, 270 RBI

The Angels acquired Lynn and veteran pitcher Steve Renko from Boston for Jim Dorsey, Joe Rudi and Frank Tanana. Of all the players dealt, Lynn, who grew up in Southern California, was the lone player to give the team trading for him multiple years of production. He made three All-Star teams with the Angels.

"When I was a kid my Dad used to take me down to Wrigley Field in Los Angeles to see the Angels play. I was always an Angels fan especially since Albie Pearson and I both attended El Monte High School," Lynn said. "To be a part of the top 50 Halos means that I've come full circle. I'm very honored to be a part of that group."

The Angels' first-round pick in 2004, Weaver has been on track to become one of the best pitchers in the American League. Weaver is coming off his best year yet in 2010, establishing himself as the ace of the pitching staff by leading the majors with 233 strikeouts. He also had the third-best WHIP in the AL (1.07) and the fifth-lowest ERA (3.01).

"It's truly an honor to be named to this list, especially considering all the great players in our history," Weaver said. PHOTO BY KEVIN SULLIVAN; TEXT BY DAN WOIKE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERNo. 38: Clyde Wright Angels pitcher 1966-73 87-85, 3.28 ERA, 1,403.1 IP, 51 CG

When Wright was told he made this list, he responded in his typical self-deprecating manner. "What I do, end up 50? No? 49 then?" Wright said. "They don't have to have a list for me. I don't have the ego anymore."

Wright had plenty of reasons to puff out his chest in 1970. While he made an All-Star team and won 22 games, it was his effort on July 3 that season that cemented his placed in Angels' lore. Wright hurled a no-hitter, the second in club history, keeping the Oakland A's off the board.

Wright currently spends plenty of his time hanging around the ball park, golfing in charity tournaments and opening the Clyde Wright Pitching School in Anaheim. PHOTO BY KEVIN SULLIVAN; TEXT BY DAN WOIKE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERNo. 37: Bryan Harvey Angels pitcher 1987-92 16-20, 126 SV, 10.7 SO/9 INN

Harvey was a dominant relief pitcher in his five years with the Angels, saving 126 games and carrying a 2.49 ERA. In 1991, Harvey led the American League with 46 saves. The Angels left Harvey unprotected in the 1992 expansion draft, and the Marlins selected him with the 20th pick. FILE PHOTO; TEXT BY DAN WOIKE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERNo. 36: Scot Shields Angels pitcher 2001-10 46-44. 3.18 ERA, 697.0 IP, 1.244 WHIP

How does a pitcher who never sniffed a Cy Young, never made an All-Star Game and never had electric stuff make this list? He was consistently excellent in an area that's especially volatile.

Between 2002 and 2008, Shields was one of the best relief pitchers in baseball, carrying a 2.98 ERA over 420 games during that span. Shields has pitched in 491 games for the Angels, second most in team history.

When Boone had his contract purchased by the Angels from Philadelphia after the 1981 season, Boone figured retirement would be around the corner. But in Anaheim, he underwent a career resurgence, re-establishing himself as one of the elite defensive catchers in all of baseball, winning three Gold Gloves for the Angels.

"I'm humbled by it and very pleased to be a part of this list," Boone said. "The Angels are a big part of my baseball life, and it's exciting to me to be a part of this."

Boone is currently the assistant general manager for the Washington Nationals and the vice president of player development. PHOTO BY BRUCE CHAMBERS; TEXT BY DAN WOIKE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERNo. 34: Bobby Knoop Angels second baseman 1964-69 .240 BA, .298 OBP, .344 SLG, 803 G

Knopp wasn't much of a hitter (career .236 batting average), but he more than made up for his shortcomings at the plate with his wizardry in the field. He was a two-time winner of the Gold Glove Award and made an All-Star team in 1966 when he had 11 triples and 17 home runs. FILE PHOTO; TEXT BY DAN WOIKE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERNo. 33: Jim Abbott Angels pitcher 1989-92, 1995-96 54-74, 4.07 ERA, 1,073.2 IP, 607 SO

Viewing Abbott strictly as a pitcher, he was the Angels' first-round pick in the 1988 draft and he made his major-league debut a year later without ever pitching in he minors. In 1991 and 1992, he had a 2.83 ERA over 63 starts for the Halos before being sent to the Yankees for a package that included J.T. Snow.

His second run with the Angels wasn't nearly as good, but with Abbott, it's about more than the numbers. Born without a right hand, Abbott inspired countless people by overcoming his condition to become one of baseball's most popular players. FILE PHOTO; TEXT BY DAN WOIKE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERNo. 32: Bengie Molina Angels catcher 1998-2005 .273 BA, .309 OBP, .397 SLG, 716 G

Molina handled the Angels pitching staff as the primary catcher for six seasons, and while he was known for his defensive value (two Gold Gloves), he wasn't a slouch at the plate either. In his eight years with the Angels, Molina hit .273, averaging 8 HR and 45 RBI a season. PHOTO BY MICHAEL GOULDING; TEXT BY DAN WOIKE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERNo. 31: Torii Hunter Angels outfielder 2008-present .285 BA, .354 OBP, .477 SLG, 66 HR, 46 SB

The Angels made Torii Hunter a much richer man when they signed him to the largest deal in club history after the 2007 season (five years, $90 million), and in his three years with the club, Hunter has won two Gold Gloves, made two All-Star teams and won a Silver Slugger. He's also become the face of the franchise and the team's leader in the clubhouse.

""Me? Cool!" he said when told he'd made the list. "The Angels have such a proud history, and I'm glad I have contributed enough to be considered" PHOTO BY JOSHUA SUDOCK; TEXT BY DAN WOIKE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Pitchers Jim Abbott and Scot Shields are in the 30s on our overall list, but they got votes in the teens. So did 60s era second baseman Bobby Knoop, who was also left off three ballots. Strangely enough, Fred Lynn and Torii Hunter were also left off three ballots. GRAPHIC BY CINDY O'DELL; TEXT BY KEITH SHARON, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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